Justin Gaethje Warns Next Opponent of Ilia Topuria, Suggests Pimblett Bout

Earlier this year, Justin Gaethje secured one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by stopping Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC White House to capture undisputed lightweight gold. Speaking on the Double Coverage podcast, Gaethje reflected on the title victory, explaining that a perfect storm of his experience, mindset, game plan, and Topuria being in a vulnerable mental spot contributed to the result.

Despite the victory, Gaethje offered high praise for Topuria's abilities and issued a blunt warning to the lightweight division. "He is so skilled, and whoever fights him next is going to be f*cked," Gaethje said. He noted that outside of mental mistakes and the inherent unpredictability of the sport, Topuria remains one of the world's best. Comparing the situation to his own path following a knockout loss to Max Holloway, Gaethje stated that he wants to see Topuria thrive and use the setback as an opportunity to inspire and prove doubters wrong.

While Topuria has lobbied for an immediate rematch—a concept UFC CEO Dana White has seemingly entertained—Gaethje dismissed talks about his own next opponent, as he is sidelined until 2027. Instead, Gaethje suggested that a matchup between Topuria and Paddy Pimblett would be a great option. Gaethje also recalled his tactical mindset during their championship clash, noting that his main focus in grappling exchanges was keeping Topuria from touching his head.